Category: Poetry

It is always a trigger which sets off a series of events in your life and a visit to the KAAS “Plateau of Flowers” in the Western Ghats did just that. I simply cannot keep the treasure to myself, so here I go opening the World of Amazing Flowers.

Am back to the world of blogging. Hello , am alive and kicking once again.

The Kaas Plateau is located in the Sahaydri Hills, 25 kms off a sweet town called Satara, Maharasthra which is accessible from Pune ( 120 kms away ) and Mumbai in Western India.

A hidden natural treasure and home to over 850 species of Unique Flowers the Kaas Pathar ( meaning Stone) is tagged as a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site.

The entire Plateau is swamped by flowers and the colour of the Hills changes with every passing season . When I happened to visit the site at the tail end of Monsoons in September , Kaas was cloaked in a Purple, have a look .

The Hills are Blessed with the Music of Flowers

To really appreciate the splendour and magnificence of the region you need to keep a sharp eye for tiny microscopic carnivorous plants to large trees bearing medicinal fruits.

The purple strokes of this natural painting are on account of one particular flowerwhich seems to be dominating the landscape at this point of time.

They bloom at the tail end end of the Monsoons ( rainy season) from September till October.

Cause of the colour “Purple” in the Hills of Kaas

A zoom in reveals “alien looking purple flowers” which remind me of the more familiar Sweet Peas we have in our gardens.

The zoom in also reveals the leaves which are armed to the teeth with deadly looking thorns.

Impatiens lawii

These Enchanting flowers are endemic ( native) to this region and belong to the Balsam family Balsaminaceae .

An Enchanting area full of Natural Wonders , I will be back to unveil some wonderful pictures of flowers I have never ever seen before. Each would put to shame the creators of the movie Avatar and the imaginary world of Pandora.

The Year 2017 has been thus far been simply amazing with surprising twists and turns to make anyone dizzy.

My sudden plunge into Political campaigning in the heart of Rural India ( please read an earlier post titled INDIAN COUNTRYSIDE) combined with to and fro visits to Operating theaters in Hospitals and am literary gasping for breath.

The twister of a Political Ride took to me the Capital of Uttar Pradesh , Lucknow, where I spotted these spectacularMulberry ( English) or Shatoot (Hindi) trees.

Gorgeous Fruit Laden Tree

The juicy “Shahtoot” fruits brought upon a surge of nostalgia as I recall my Grandfather’s Garden which had so many kinds of fruit which are now near impossible to find in any Fruit Market in the metropolis of New Delhi.

Black Mulberry ( English), Shahtoot ( Hindi) or Morus nigra ( Scientific name) is the name of this quaint and exotic looking fruit which many would not recognize in large cities today.

Shades of Red to Black

I do recall collecting them in little cups made by folding the beautifully shaped green leaves of the Mulberry Tree. The dark black fruits ooze a Deep Wine Red Juice which would colour anything they touched.

Bunch of Abbundance

The Shahtoot shares its origins and name from ancient Persia but is today found across the Indian Sub continent. Though for some inexplicable reason it is extremely difficult to find in any Fruit stall in India which are now laden with Kiwis and such fruits from far away lands.

Juicy Fruits

Things are changing for sure and many aromas and tastes remain now merely as memories.

Enchanting fruits for my lovely readers who welcomed me back with warmth and affection.

India is the Kingdom where Mangoes rule the World of Fruits, undoubtedly the King of Fruits.

Mangoes are the compensation to this land for bearing the Hot Summer Months. The Scorching heat fills these scrumptious Fruits with the Sweetest of Juices. The Hotter the Summer the sweeter are the Mangoes.

Mangoes ( English), Aam ( Hindi), Mangifera indica ( Scientific name) are native to the Indian Subcontinent and entrenched in the the History of this Ancient Land. It is from this ancient Land that they spread to the rest of the World.

The Mango Tree is revered in India and forms part of all auspicious functions like Inaugrating a New Home or A Wedding.

Garlands are made from Mango leaves and hung on the Main Entrances of Homes symbolizing Fertility and Good Luck.

The Tree of the King of Fruits

Spring covers the trees with blossoms , the fragrance of which drives the pollinators like Bees wild.

The famous design called Paisley ( Kairi in Hindi) owes it shape to the King of Fruits , Mangoes. Have a look at the Mango on the Left below and turn it 180 degrees clockwise. Behold the Paisley.

The Blossoms and Raw Mangoes

Raw Mangoes form the base of numerous mouth watering Pickles and Chutney. Each region of this Land has a different species of Mangoes and thus naturally hundreds of Recipes abound.

It would take a lifetime to discover and taste all the recipes.

Curvaceous Mangoes

For me personally Mangoes are my favourite Fruit and of the hundreds of species of mangoes, Chausa rules my Taste Buds.

Are you still reading the blog, go and grab a Mango. The King of Fruits will disappear within a month.